Category: D&L Trail

Located in Eastern Pennsylvania, The Delaware and Lehigh Corridor Trail is a 165 mile-long recreational trail that runs the entire length of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. It’s pristine landscape, historical significance, and cultural contributions to the history of our country have made this area a haven for the outdoor enthusiast. Its gorgeous trails and splendid natural features provide an outdoor playground for people, as well as their dogs.
The Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
This Heritage Area is 165 miles long, spans 5 counties and includes more than 100 cities and towns in eastern Pennsylvania. Its more than 100,000 acres of land covers 3 main geographical areas: the Delaware Valley, the Lehigh Valley, and Carbon County-Wyoming Valley. Three main waterways meandering through the Area are the Delaware River, Susquehanna River and the Lehigh River.
This area was designated as a National Heritage Area by Congress in 1988. Natural Heritage Areas have been set aside by the government as land for its citizens to enjoy and are chosen based upon their natural, cultural and historical significance.
A more perfect area could not have been chosen for this designation. This area has a rich history, and was influential in the early development of the United States. The trail was an early trade route for Native American tribes such as the Leni Lenape, Iroquois, and Susquehannock.
The region’s large reserves of coal were instrumental to the Industrial Revolution; in fact, this trail follows the path that coal took from the mine to the consumer. The large coal reserves of this area prompted the settlement of new towns and the creation of new industries. Four historically significant cant railroad systems facilitated the transportation of coal, other goods and people through the region.